Notes From the Cookie Jar

Advocating for Your Kid 101

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0000

In the past 10 years that Jake has attended public school, we have had to advocate for him at some point each year. Sometimes, the issue was totally minor and only took a small chat with the teacher, and others it took what felt like a Herculean effort.

Along the way, we made many mistakes, but I would like to think that we have learned some things, too. Things that I would love to share with all of you. Keep in mind that I am no expert, and the things stated here are strictly my own opinion. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me directly and I'll do my best to help you out.

1. It isn't your job to be best friends with the teacher (brown nosing doesn't get you anywhere)

This sounds a bit...harsh, I know. But it's true. The teacher is there to teach your child, not to be your best buddy. It doesn't win you any brownie points or guarantee that your child will be treated better if the teacher likes you, and just makes you an adult version of the "teacher's pet". Remember how kids all hated the teacher's pet in school?

That's not to say that you shouldn't recognize the hard work that your child's teacher puts in every day. By all means, recognize that. Surprise them with a little chocolate on Valentine's Day, a thoughtful little something at Christmas, and if you feel they are doing amazing things for your child, say so. Only if you really mean it.

The reason I say that you can't be their friend is that if you do have to stand up for your child, it's so much easier if you aren't. Otherwise you might be put on the spot of choosing between a friend and your child, and THAT is difficult. Keep it business-like. They are in the business of educating. Your job is to look out for your child's best interests. PERIOD.

2. Follow the chain of command (or you will look like a complete fool)

I admit, I'm bad at this. (sheepish grin) In schools here in BC, there is a chain of command if you are unhappy. First, talk to the teacher. Then if it's not resolved, you talk to the principal. If it's not resolved there, you talk to the assistant superintendent (or superintendent if there is not assistant). If you STILL aren't happy, you bring the issue to the school board. Most school districts have written policies regarding this that you can download from their websites or via pamphlet form from the Board Office, or at your child's school.

From personal experience, it's best to follow this and document everything. If you don't, usually the higher-up person will tell you to try to resolve it with the lower person first and you'll just look a bit foolish.

3. Document, document, document (I mean it!)

Did I say document? It's a good idea to keep a binder with your child's report cards, assessments, notes from meetings (dated and names of who is present), etc. Communicate important things to your child's school via mail and keep a copy for yourself. A paper trail is your bestest friend because if you need to take it to the next level, you have proof.

4. Don't get emotional (ie-calling people up and screaming at them is a bad idea)

I have been guilty of this as well. Do your utmost to stay calm, rational, and don't let them goad you into losing your cool. By all means, don't go in there and swear at them because once you do, it becomes all about your "abusive" behavior and less about your child. Count to 100, envision palm trees and ocean waves, do whatever you have to in order to stay calm.

That doesn't mean you can't be firm. Just don't lose it or they win because you then look like the crazy one.

5. Do your homework (especially if you have a special needs child)

One of the most important things you can do is know the School Act (as it's called in BC). Know your child's rights, and your rights as a parent. Know the district's policies, the school policies, and everything you can about your child's disability. It's a tall order, yes. However it also helps a great deal when you are advocating for your child. There's no surprises, then. Knowledge really is power.

6. Assessments are not a bad thing. Most of the time.

A lot of parents are wary of assessments, because it will mean that their child will be labeled. What if the label is incorrect and then their kid is put through years of therapy for something they don't even HAVE?! It's a valid concern.

Here is MY opinion...

When Jake was young, the district we were in had a really high amount of kids diagnosed with ADHD and put on Ritalin. We were pressured to have him assessed to do the same. We refused. Suspicious of the whole 'assessment' of all these kids, we chose to have Jake assessed privately and pay for it ourselves.

If you pay for a private assessment, the information is in YOUR control. You only release to the school district what you want them to know. There is some risk to a private assessment, as we found out. School districts are not always willing to give them the same amount of weight as an internal one. Plus they run around $1500 + to have done.

If you allow the school district to assess your child internally, the information is in THEIR control. If the person believes they have something that you don't agree with, it's virtually impossible to shake that label.

It's up to you. Generally, if you can have an assessment done by the gold seal standard place in your area (with us it's Children's Hospital), then I believe that you are much better off. With Children's Hospital we went through our family doctor and the school recommended we have him assessed there, it was free, and nobody argues with THAT assessment.

Having the right diagnosis is pure gold because then you have something to work with, to point people to, etc when you are advocating. It can become the proof you need for your child to qualify for a scribe or reader later on in high school.

7. Get a Thick Skin

I hate to say this, but advocating doesn't win you friends. Sometimes you will be the unpopular parent in the class and everyone will resent you for rocking the boat. Sometimes you will have to take people to task, and when you walk in the doors of the school the atmosphere will be as cold as an ice cube. Suck it up.

If this happens, remember #1. You have a child to look after, and it's their needs that come first. PERIOD.

Spam Magnet

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0000

In the last little while, the amount of spam I've been getting has jumped significantly. What's with that? Am I now a spam magnet?

For almost four years, I never had spammy comments on this blog, and now I get at least four a day.

Readers, take note:

if you leave a comment here under anonymous, AND/OR you leave some long winded thing full of links to do with a business, I will delete it. Period. I have no tolerance any more for spammy comments and I'll be ruthless. If I delete something that is a genuine comment, my apologies. Also, while we're at it if you start spamming me via Twitter I will block you so fast you won't know what hit ya.

They come in all sorts of languages, in hilariously bad English, with everything from cheap medications (hello, I live in Canada?) to penis enhancers (I'm a girl?), to telling me that I've won some ridiculous amount of money and have to claim before the FBI gets me (eyeroll), etc. This one I found in my mailbox today, and it's a unique one.

Hey Sandra, hon? Maybe you're lonely and you're hoping to find love through that Internet site. Sorry to disappoint, but I'm SO hetero. As in, the joke in our house is that I could never be gay because women often drive me nuts. Relationship? About as likely as Hell freezing over.

Somebody either stole my e-mail address and used it on that site you listed...or wait...you could just be promoting that damn site and hoping I'll click over, waiting to download some ~~virus~~ picture of you. Oh, and look! Your little friends are now e-mailing me too! How fun!

You probably hope that I might *gasp* think it's my Husband who has registered. Sad that he doesn't even know my blogging e-mail.

Besides that, good Lord woman, learn how to use a period and capital letters, already. That has to be the longest run on sentence EVER.

Perhaps the school of spamming should think to include a class titled, "English 101-How to Write a Spammy E-mail Without Obvious English Mistakes." Most of your co-workers could really benefit from it. Good luck with your...er...work.

Kisses, (but not really because...you know. Although on second thought it's tempting just so I can give you this god-awful virus that left me in bed for a week)

Scatteredmom

Valentine Treats!

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Are you looking for some chocolatey goodness to share with the ones you love this Valentine's Day that doesn't break the bank? Why not whip up some of these really easy recipes?

Kaluah Truffles for Two

The recipe makes six of the most delicious, decadent truffles you'll ever eat. You don't have to use Kaluah at all, either. Feel free to switch it up or omit it altogether.

Chocolate Orange Brownie Cookies with Dark Chocolate M&Ms

Don't let the idea of orange and chocolate scare you off. You can skip the orange flavor and just add vanilla instead. The dark chocolate M&Ms are a must, though!

Chocolate Candy Crinkles

A brownie-like crinkle cookie topped with Hershey's kisses or hugs. These recipe makes a bunch of smallish sized cookies, perfect for gift giving.

Chocolate Rice Krispie Squares

One of my most popular recipes on this site. They converted Hubs, who doesn't like Rice Krispie squares, into someone who can devour half a pan of these babies. If you want to get extra sinful, sandwich them with your favorite ice cream.

Chocolate Fondue

This is so easy you'll never believe it-just melt some chocolate with whipped cream, add some liqueur if you want, keep it warm, and serve with fruit, angel food cake, and pretzels. Your family will think they have died and gone to heaven.

Cappuccino Cheesecake Brownies

For the coffee and chocolate lover, this combines a rich brownie bottom with a creamy, coffee cheesecake topping.

Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes

Last but not least, the best chocolate cupcake I've ever made from scratch. (swoon) I considered not listing it because this photo is my Twitter avatar, readers have made them and posted about it, I've raved about them, made multiple batches, and I'd think you guys would be sick of them by now. I just can't leave them out because to me they SO say Valentine's day and are a perfect thing to send in your kid's classroom. Chocolate lovers will worship the ground you walk on. Promise. It's been tested.

Steeped Lemons with Honey and Julia

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:56:00 +0000

While sick this week, I spent my afternoons curled up under a blanket on the couch, sipping hot steeped lemons with honey and watching movies.

A word about the hot steeped lemons and honey thing; for years I pooh poohed the whole practice, but this time, I caved and actually tried it. You know it's bad when your voice is becoming whisper quiet and when you can actually make a noise it sounds more like a bark then a person. I used to think that the only good sick day lemon drink was Neo Citran, because hello, at least there's happy drugs in there that make me sleep, even though it tasted horrible.

Too cheap to pay the $10 a box even though it contained happy drugs, this time I stuck to steeped lemons, sipping slowly here and there all day yesterday. By noon low and behold, my voice was coming back! Oh my! Note to self: some fresh mint in it might be really good next time, and yesterday @Hogle_zoo suggested I grate some ginger in there too. (yes you read that right, a zoo in Salt Lake City was giving me cold remedy tips-isn't Twitter grand?)

(clouds part, angels sing, and my poor husband probably curses them because the few days of silence were a blessing. Just kidding!) I'm repeating the ritual today and hopefully I'll be my old self by tomorrow.

Anyway, one of the movies I watched was "Julie and Julia", starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. (here is the trailer)

Loved the movie. It inspired me as both a blogger and a cook to get out there are reach farther, higher, and damn it, get myself into the kitchen to discover more delicious things to blog about because as you know, I kind of like to cook. I'm not a "real" cook as some would say-there's no training here, no professional expertise of any sort. I'm simply a Mom who has always loved being in the kitchen, and who loves food. Eating it, creating it, watching other people cook it, taking photos of it, and most importantly, sharing it with others. I blame my grandma, who would fill the table with all sorts of delicious things and insist that we "EAT!"

The blogging part was good too-I mean, haven't we all felt the pressure to keep up because oh my goodness-people are reading? Who else can relate to that but another blogger?

Once the movie was over I went to find her blog and there it was in all it's glory, with some words exactly like in the film. As I began to read, it slowly dawned on me that I should have stopped at the movie. It left me all warm and fuzzy and inspired, whereas looking up the actual blog and the real story behind it was a bit of a let down. Don't get me wrong-I have nothing against Julie Powell in any way, but the truth is that romantic comedies are really nothing like the real thing and in that blog, those words that inspired the movie, there is one thing missing. One huge, gaping hole, because one of the most important players of all isn't really there.

The food.

Oh there's talk about what she made, and how hard or easy it was, and the adventure part of it. Little bits possibly of how yummy it was, or how she changed things, etc. But there are no pictures, no real commentary on the outcome, and really the food is sort of a back seat player. Along for the ride. In reality, it's not about the food. At all. Or the writing. At that moment I sat, absorbing this truth, and I was deeply disappointed.

*sigh*

Now I get why Julia Child wasn't so happy about the whole thing. For those of us who really, really love food and cooking (and by saying us I'm in no way saying I'm even remotely like Julia Child) it seems almost sacrilege to pretend it is. The passion for cooking, for food, sharing a meal like that is something precious, and almost primal. What better way to bond than over an amazing meal, or showing someone how to create that in their own kitchen and give their family the same pleasure? It's nurturing, sharing, and kindness in it's most basic human form.

You've never seen me beam while Jake and Hubs greedily slurp down their dinners, mumbling about how amazing it is. That simple act of providing nurturing fills my heart to bursting.

Julie Powell wrote and cooked to give herself direction, but I'm not sure she really had any passion with either. If she did, it doesn't really come through. Julia Child, on the other hand, threw everything she had into her cooking and in that way, they are opposites. As I considered this last night, I began to think of my own blog and cooking. Do I write and cook just because I can, like Julie, or because it makes my very soul sing, like Julia? Why stop with cooking? Do I write because I can, or do I strive to be the very best I can be? Will I settle for churning out mediocre content?

In my heart I already knew the answer. No. Passion is the difference between doing it because I can, and doing it because I love it. This blog, and cooking, is something I truly, deeply love. Like Julie, I have always struggled with finishing things I start; however, this blog is going into it's fourth year this May. Four. I can't stick to any exercise routine longer than a week, and yet I've somehow managed to blog this long.

You can't bottle that kind of passion or teach it to someone. It has to be there, inside of you, just waiting to burst forth and envelop everything you do. I will never be a great cook like Julia Child, or find the fame through my writing as Julie Powell did, but it doesn't matter.

The passion is really all I need to keep me going.

Later on that day, Jake collected the mail and as I sat in the car waiting, he dropped something in my lap. Some confirmation, of sorts, that I am on the right track.

Sitting there, addressed all the way from Virgina, was a letter from one of my blog readers.

Chicken Tortilla soup by Scatteredmom

Sick Mama Revenge

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

So, Jake? Remember when you were two and I taught you how to share? You were so good at it.

I just didn't mean the nasty cold virus that would incapacitate me for days, steal my voice, and make my entire body hurt so much that even my EYES are screaming for mercy.

And then you wonder why I forgot to make your lunch....bwhahaha!

Fabulicious Friday 2010 #3

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

It's Friday and time for what's Fabulicious in the Cookie Jar!

1. Bloggers to Read (ya, this week it's two!):

Amber at Crazy Blogging Canuck

I think I've been reading Amber's blog for about 3 years now. Hilariously funny and adventurous, I think I've always felt a kinship with her because a) I've been to Denver, plus many of the places she writes about, and b) we once were in Calgary at the same time, only minutes from each other and c) we're both Canadian. I love the tales of her pumpkin obsessed husband, her cute kids, and her sense of humor.

Anyway when she was in the top 5 of a contest sponsored by Microsoft Office for the opportunity to win a trip to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, I was so excited that I promised that if she won, I'd trek into the city and take her out for coffee.

She won! So stay tuned, Amber is on her way to the 2010 Games, I'm planning to make the trek in to meet her, and you'll get to read all about it!

Heather at The Spohrs are Mulitiplying:

Head on over and wish Heather and Mike congratulations on the birth of their new little bundle of cuteness, Annabel! I swear the Internet held it's breath for 9 months while we waited for this cutie, and now she's here we just want to celebrate!

Heather is an inspiring, amazing person and you will be glad you dropped by. Her blog is required reading, I'm sure. And if you can, send her some Smarties. I hear she likes them.

2. Twitter Follower: Leftcoastmama

There I was, twittering away about my Tassimo and Gwendolyn offered to send me her coffee T disks in exchange for my tea ones (which I didn't like). Really?! I'll do anything for coffee! (well. almost. ) Thankfully she's patient and understands my failings at snail mail, because it's been awhile and i still haven't gotten them in the mail yet even though her coffee ones arrived in (brace yourselves) DECEMBER. Umm...oops? (seriously, I'll bring them to the tweet up in Vancouver. Promise!!)

3. Fave new thing this week: My purple Gap hoodie

Gap has come out with some hoodies that are so nice, fit so well, are so cozy soft....I want to buy them all. I settled for a purple one. Loooooooove it. I pair it up with some long sleeved favorite t-shirts, and am in Gap-clothing heaven.

And the kids at school liked my hoodie too because they told me it brings out my eyes. Or maybe it was because they had a test that day and were hoping I'd slip them some answers?

4. Scatteredmom's no brainer tip o'the week:

NEVER (and yes, I mean never) pour boiling water into a mason jar. The jar just might crack right through the bottom so that all the water will begin to seep out, and as you try to scoop out the lemon slices (because you were trying to be a good mommy and make steeped lemon and honey for your sick kid) it will let go and release boiling HOT water ALL over the counter. It will run down onto the floor, all over the stove, and generally make one big hot mess.

Just sayin'. The stupid jar has to be hot already before you dump boiling water into it. Duh.

5. This week's You Tube video:

The first time I saw this I laughed so hard because it reminded me of a Christmas when Jake was 3 and I accidentally stepped on a Hot Wheels car that Santa had left behind. As I was screaming in pain (those are sharp suckers!) Jake was crying,

"You bent it! It's broken!"

Ah, parenthood.

Recipe Thursday: Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

We have been on a bit of a peanut butter and chocolate binge here in the Cookie Jar. My apologies to those readers who can't eat peanut butter, but lucky for me, it's one of the few kinds of nuts that I CAN eat! Also now that Jake is in a high school where peanut products are allowed, I can go a bit crazy and send things like these cookies in his lunch.

I found the recipe on my Epicurious app via my iPod. They are a bit drier then I normally like my cookies, but taste delicious.

Read more for the recipe....

End of an Era

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Photo credit: Tommy129

When I was seven, we moved from a little house right in the town of 100 Mile House to an old, sprawling two story place on a huge lot on the 108 Ranch. (if you follow the link and read about the place, YES. It was just as amazing as the page says) Half the lot was forest, the other half was grass dotted with birch trees. At first, like most kids I didn't want to move but eventually, I grew to love the wide open spaces.

Behind our house was a huge field where horses would roam, which soon became my playground. With friends I built forts, caught frogs and crickets, picked wild strawberries and caught butterflies. Soon I grew to know every bit of the fields and the forests-where the fox dens were, what wild onions looked like, which trails were short cuts to friend's houses. On Saturdays we used to walk to the one store for miles, to spend our allowance on a rootbeer and Caramilk bars.

I'm not sure what made me decide to bundle up and put on the used ski gear that my Dad had bought from the local high school when I was around nine. Maybe it was curiosity. Nevertheless, one winter day I gathered up my gear, trekked down the road, hopped the fence into the nearby 108 Resort, and skied around the entire property. All by myself.

Once I discovered this wonder of trails looping around the perimeter of the golf course, I was hooked. Throughout the rest of my childhood, night would fall and we'd grab our skis, take off down the road, and hop the fence. If the tracks were a bit icy we'd hear the swoosh of our skis as we'd fly through the dark night, our way lit by street lamps, frosty breath trailing behind us like smoke. If the moon was full, the beauty of the snow and the trees would be so overwhelming we'd stop and stand in wonderment, admiring the way the moonlight would play off the sparkles in the snow, or the how the trees would be so covered they looked like giant misshapen marshmallows. Part way around the course was the resort restaurant-mostly for tourists, but we would stop, unstrap our skis, stomp off the snow, and venture inside. There we'd fish out our hard earned allowance to treat ourselves to big mugs of creamy hot chocolate and crispy fries smothered in gravy.

The trek home from the restaurant was mostly downhill. It was a reward, of sorts, for making the difficult trek up the long hill to the restaurant. Punctuated with street lamps to light the way, we had to have faith that the groomers made sure the tracks were solid because once you began down the hill, your skis would take over as if they had a life of their own. As a kid I relished this part of the course the most; we'd whoop and holler into the night as we flew into the darkness, cold wind stinging our cheeks, feeling like any moment we'd leave the icy tracks and take flight. We'd arrive home pink cheeked and breathless to a warm house, ready for a hot meal and evening playing board games by the fire.

When I graduated from elementary school, my best friend and I sat by ourselves by the window at the restaurant, nibbling on lemon cake filled with mousse and feeling very grown up. At 16, the boy I had a crush on took me there for steak and lobster. The sun set in the distance over the 108 Lake, filling the sky with fiery oranges and pinks, and I thought it was so romantic and grown up. At 17, a boy from San Diego visited and we walked hand and hand through the prettiest parts of the golf course, where he kissed me passionately by the log fence over looking the lake. For the first time, I really thought I was in love.

At 18 I remember getting my first job in the restaurant, busing tables and that summer, served customers from all over the world as a local musician twanged out "Dueling Banjos" and people danced. The staff danced around in the back, cleaning the cutlery and folding linens at the same time. I helped cater weddings, dated one of the BBQ chefs, and ate more amazing food there then I thought possible. I still remember tender chicken stuffed with crab and cream cheese, smothered in hollandaise sauce, and Marguerite's famous fresh strawberry pie. Oh, the pie. Nobody made pie like Marguerite. It was famous!

I had always thought that one day, I would be able to return with Jake and show him the resort. We'd ski at night, sit once again in the restaurant, and although the menu and the owners had changed, I wanted to visit the best part of my childhood just one more time with my son. There just was never any time, or it never seemed like the right time, and we hadn't gone yet. There's always next year, I'd say. Next year would come and it just wouldn't happen. I always had good intentions but somehow, life would get in the way.

This morning I sat clutching a cup of coffee, watching the news as video of the building engulfed in flames flickered across the screen.

Early yesterday morning, the building burned to the ground. Last February, the hotel was set ablaze by an arsonist and the resort went into receivership shortly after. There is no reason to visit, now.

Everything that I loved-that was once there, the best part of growing up in that place, is gone.

Fourteen

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:09:00 +0000

Fourteen years ago, I held you in my arms and gazed out a window as snow drifted down amongst the rainbow twinkles of Christmas lights.

The strains of "Silent Night" played in the background.

So this is how Mary felt, I thought. Minus the wise men and the barn. I remember looking at your face and wondering what the heck I was supposed to do with you. Me? They are giving ME a baby? Shouldn't I be licensed or something, or at least take a class? How the hell am I supposed to know what to do with this tiny screaming bundle that leaks?

Fourteen. How does time go by so quickly? One minute you were a chubby cheeked baby who loved to chew on your toes; I blinked, and now you are this tall, deep voiced teenager talking dating and girls.

I catch my breath when I realize that in five years, you'll be considered an adult. Five years is nothing. A blip in the span of time. To you, it's an eternity away; to me, it's so frighteningly close that I catch my breath.

Today here you are, curled up sound asleep on the couch in front of the fireplace wrapped in an afghan, and I can still see traces of the chubby cheeked, blond baby who used to use my jeans to pull himself up, and then nip at the backs of my legs to get my attention. The sharp pieces of lego on the floor, Hot Wheels tucked into my purse, and how you would never go to sleep with out your fuzzy black stuffed doggie.

Fourteen. So grown up that it's a bit frightening, but then you revert back to your little kid self and for a split second, you're nine again. The lego sits untouched under the bed, you have packed away your Hot Wheels for your future kids, and the well worn stuffed dog now sits on your head board. I'm not sure I'm ready for this either; the dating, learning to drive, molding you into the man that you will grow up to be. How could the Gods trust me with a teenager?

Me? The one who never experimented with anything as a teen? Who never drank, rebelled, smoked pot, or even stayed out past curfew, not even once? How am I going to know what to do?

You smile in your sleep and suddenly I realize that it doesn't matter; how much I knew, and how prepared I was, NEVER mattered. I didn't know anymore then about babies than I do now about teenagers.

Well, not really. There is one thing I do know now.

That fierce, blinding love that grips me; that Mama bear instinct to protect you even though you are larger than I am, the complete, unconditional love that I have for you...

..that's all I'll ever need.

My Kid Cursed the 2010 Olympics

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Saturdays are my favorite day of the week. They are the one day where, snuggled under my down comforter, I sleep in until late, then I sip coffee and lounge in my pjs until noon.

Saturdays are the BOMB.

So why did I give this one up?

Well, it was Jake's birthday awhile ago. The advantage of having a kid in high school is that they are keenly aware of the advantages of Boxing Day shopping, and putting your birthday thing off until after the holidays. So I had offered to do something fun with him and a friend for his birthday "party".

The activity of choice? Snow tubing.

You see, we've tried to go snow tubing before. When Jake was turning nine we planned a tubing party at Mount Washington on Vancouver Island. For a kid who has never been on a toboggan, I thought it would be a very cool birthday treat, and I was right! Jake would have loved it.

I think we have some type of curse on our family, though.

We planned, we invited people, and three days later?

All the snow melted. The mountain closed.

No prob! We'll just go after the holidays. We waited, we planned, we invited.....

The snow melted AGAIN. The mountain declared the season a bust and shut down.

This year? This freaking important year because the 2010 Olympics are happening and Cypress Mountain is a venue, so there has to be lots of amazing snow? The one year that I would love to take my kid and blog about it because dude, that would be so cool?

We plan to go tubing this weekend and...you guessed it....

The snow MELTS.

So I'm kinda sorry, everyone, I think we may have jinxed a few events. The whole Whistler being auctioned off thing though?

Totally not our fault.

Cookie Crumbs: Techie Tales

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 05:03:00 +0000

Jake: "So Mom, it was so cool-I was playing Fallout 3 and all these kids thought it was so cool, I love having gaming club at lunch."

Me: " Very cool, Jake. But let me make one thing absolutely clear. If I hear from your teachers that you are playing video games during class, even once, you know what will happen."

Jake: "I know."

Me: "I will take that game, and I will have a giveaway on my blog, and you will never see it again. "

Jake (nods solemnly): "Ohhhh ya. I know. I'd never be that stupid, because I know you'll actually DO it."

*******************

Jake: "Mom the weirdest thing happened today."

Me: "What's that? Things are finally calm computer wise? You're catching up on your school work?"

Jake: "Um...no. Remember Mrs. Y?"

Me: "Ya......? "

Jake: "Well she said that if it's okay with you, she'll pay me to teach her how to use her PC."

Me (laughing for a full 3 minutes, so hard that tears begin running down my face): "Wait, let me get this straight." (gasping for air)

"After all THAT, now teachers are offering to PAY you to teach them how to use their home computers? You're joking."

Speechless. I'm totally speechless.

A Cautionary Computer Tale

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:18:00 +0000

There's been something that we have been dealing with here in the Cookie Jar for the past month, and I feel that it is my duty now as a parent to warn other British Columbian parents out there.

Specifically if you have a special needs child who uses a SET-BC computer.

SET-BC is a company who lends computer equipment and assistive devices to school districts so that children with special needs can access curriculum. They are a wonderful company; the technicians are fabulous, the devices top notch, and without them, many kids would be left without a means to communicate.

However.

School districts lobby for their most needy students to receive equipment from SET BC. They put together a "pitch" of sorts, stating which kids need the equipment more, and only have so many "points" to spend per year. The amount of points each district has depends on how many students are in their area. When a child is approved to receive equipment, it is loaned to the district and therefore, becomes district property.

THIS is where things can become sticky and where, I believe, parents need to know what they are getting into.

These devices are handed to kids with the advice to use it as their own; take it home, go ahead, explore and do whatever you like with it! Twitter! You Tube! Facebook! Have fun because the more you use it, the more you get used to it, the better off you'll be! Right?

Wrong.

The catch is, those computers belong to the school district. So every file, every piece of homework, every single e-mail, every instant message, can be confiscated and viewed by the district. Oh, you say, that's alright, my kid never does that type of thing.

Wait a sec. Let me repeat that.

The school district can, at ANY time, take that computer away and go through everything on it.

Everything.

Your child has no privacy. None. Zip. Zero.

Your special needs, disabled child.

And if they find something they deem objectionable? Or that even appears suspicious?

They can take the computer and not give it back for months, even in the absence of actual proof. They can have techies look at it who then mess up the entire thing, rendering the computer useless and leaving your child floundering without an adaptive device.

They can occasionally refuse to allow your child an adaptive device altogether.

AND?! God forbid your child studies school shootings in Socials and writes notes about it. If they happen to title their notes with those provocative words, the computer can be handed to the RCMP and your child suspended, and then investigated .

They can delete what they see fit off that computer, even if it is school work, erasing months of course work that your child has slaved over, and cause your child to receive an 'I' in an enrichment course that last semester they were excelling in. They can try to say that your child can't take that course any more, because it requires the computer. Besides, they just deleted all the necessary programs anyway, so your child can't do the course even if they wanted to.

Oh, but that won't happen to us, you say. Our district is different, you say. Really? Are you sure? Are you willing to take that chance? I once thought that way too, you know.

Teenagers are often prone to making poor choices online. We can supervise them all we want, but with technology out pacing us adults and kids being farther ahead in that area then us, it happens. Accepting a borrowed computer seemed, at the time, a gift from the heavens. We couldn't afford one ourselves, and we were thrilled beyond measure that Jake was getting one.

I never, in my wildest dreams, ever thought that it would come with such a price.

You Will Never Buy a Cake Mix Again.

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:36:00 +0000

I stumbled upon the recipe for these cupcakes at Nosh With Me, and a little dubious of cupcakes made from scratch, I thought I'd try them. Jake had no idea what I was doing and after he snagged one from the cooling rack, commented that these were the BEST cupcakes he's had, and what mix did I use?

He didn't believe me when I said they were from scratch.

Topped with chocolate ganache, they are over the top delicious. I almost feel sorry for Hubs that he can't eat one.

Almost. I think I've already had four.

I blogged the recipe over here.

Fabulicious Friday 2010 #2

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 06:47:00 +0000

1. Blogger You Have Gotta Read: Anissa Mayhew

She's back! Kinda sorta! Anissa has been a must read on my blog roll for awhile before she had a stroke awhile ago. Read up on her recovery as her husband Peter keeps everyone updated, and there are guest posts by people who visit. Anissa, keep fighting! We are all here rooting for you!

2. This week's Twitter Follower: Durgagirl

After a hard week, I resolved to not let myself spend a night wallowing, and got a little silly on Twitter...

I haven't laughed all week, and that tweet alone made me laugh so hard, tears were streaming down my face. Thanks, Adrienne. I really needed that.

And NO, I wasn't drinking. Honest.

3. This week's music download: Michael Jackson's Greatest Hits

Jake was a little startled when he heard me listening to MJ. "Did you only buy it only because he died?" No. Actually I've always loved MJ's music, but I just never got around to buying it. I'm not sure why-I never did buy a lot of CDs, and now that I've finally taken the plunge into iPods and iTunes, I could see myself buying a lot more. It seems a lot easier, somehow.

What do I think of the album? Love it. I added a few more favorite MJ songs, and now I have a great collection to listen to.

4. Picture 2 in the 52 Project

Spring is coming! These were blooming at the local Canadian Tire store and despite the torrential rain this week, I managed to get a dry picture. Daffodils are my favorite spring flower, and these teeny ones were just begging to come home with me.

What's your favorite spring flower?

5. Ways to Help Haiti

Looking for ways to donate to relief efforts in Haiti? Here's a huge list of organizations Canadians can donate to, and some info for Americans, as well as some scams to watch for.

Momma Bear Mantra

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:50:00 +0000

Where was I this week? Abducted by aliens? Working for the CIA? On an international volleyball convention? (only one person in my life is going to get THAT reference, lol)

This week was hard. Really hard. Really, incredibly, HARD.

The unblog-able drama has become a never ending story, which sucked every bit of creativity and fun out of me, rendering me an anxiety ridden, emotional, mess.

None of you would have wanted to be around THAT. Trust me. So instead I turned to my kitchen and lost myself in creating enough food to fill up my freezer, and then I holed up by the TV and mocked the people on "Operation Repo" and "Housewives of Orange County" via Twitter. Sometimes being unplugged has it's advantages. As in the most amazing chocolate cupcakes I've ever made from scratch, which I'm going to share with you this weekend!

They are perfect for Valentines Day, and I just know you'll love them.

Anyway, a turning point happened today. I was at work, and had just finished a 30 minute phone call where I was given some news that really rattled me. After bolting to the bathroom for a little privacy, I stood there, dangerously close to completely melting down.

Can't melt down. Gotta supervise the hallway.
(Oh my God, oh my God, oh my god.....)
Gulp.
I can do this
Breathe.
I have to do this

And then...out of nowhere, I remembered a conversation with a friend-a friend who is going through a much harder time than I am, but who is wonderful and gracious, and who knows that my hard stuff hurts too. We had joked awhile ago that we each needed a mantra to repeat to ourselves, over and over, when we had those moments where we didn't think we could cope anymore. Whirling around and gripping the edges of the sink, I stared at my eyes.

They startled me a bit. Wild, bluer then I thought possible, they looked utterly panic stricken.

"I am strong, I am smart, I am capable, I can do this."

Over. And over. And over. I repeated the words until my heart stopped pounding, until my hands loosened, until my eyes softened, until I finally believed it.

Damn it, I can let myself melt into a puddle of anxiety, or I can dig deeper and choose to believe that in the end, the Momma Bear will prevail.

I'm choosing to believe because if I've learned anything through years of advocating, this Momma Bear is damn persistent.

Cookie Crumbs: Conversations with Teenagers

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Me (chatting with a 14 year old I know) : "So I often lose my car in the parking lot, but that' s okay I just hit the panic button. It beeps really loud. Sometimes I know where the car is but I hit the button anyway and scare the crap out of whoever is standing beside it."

14 year old( gives me long, serious look): "Are you EVER mature?"

*****************

Me: "Jake, I can't open this wine bottle! Help! It's...not...WORKING!!!"

Jake takes the bottle, adjusts the cork screw, pops out the cork.

Jake: "It's sure weird that the 14 year old with dyspraxia who isn't even allowed to drink can open the wine and you can't. Are you cork challenged or something?"

*****************

Me: "So on Twitter a bunch of us were talking about doing a Tweet up."

Hubs (look of she is one crazy woman) : "Tweet...wha?"

Me: "Tweet up. We all meet somewhere."

Hubs: "And you promised to bring cookies? How many people are coming?"

Me: "Oh I don't think that many. Five. Wait, 8. Oh, now 12. And they just keep coming......holy crap!"

Jake: "Well you DID say you'd bring cookies."

*************

Jake (whiny teenager voice): "But Moooooom, I'm confused! I don't know what you want to me clean! You said I could have books by my bed on the floor and I've had my room like this for ages! Why? Why?! Why do I have to clean it? I don't even know what to DO!"

Me (through gritted teeth): "Jake, ever since you were FIVE I have tried writing you lists, I've showed you, I've taken pictures of how it should look, I've made labeled bins, and all sorts of things. For the LOVE OF GOD, what do I have to do to get through your skull what your room should look like so we don't have a room in the house that looks like a landfill every month?!?!"

Jake: "You could clean it for me, maybe?"

Fabulicious Friday 2010: #1

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Something has been bumping and rolling around in my brain, but I couldn't put my finger on it until recently. Fabulicious Friday, while fun to write the past few years, needs some updating. While it's fun to feature products, I've decided that from now on I am going to feature people and change up the format.

It's all about community, baby.

Ready for the first edition of Fab Friday 2010?

1. Twitter Me: You should be following... Obimomkenobi

"Help me, Obi-mom, you're my only hope," (!!) This amazing tweeter talked me down from the ledges and offered some advice via e-mail while I was having panic attacks over the last few weeks.

Sometimes people just come out of the blue when you least expect it. Thank you! And the Twitter background? Always makes me smile to see Storm Troopers on bikes.

2. Bloggy Buddy you should read: Mommy Wants Vodka

I met Becky just after Blog Her, when she realized that she had a stack of business cards to give away and forgot. So readers were told if we wanted some, she'd send us some and we could have fun with them-take pictures and that sort of thing, and submit them.

My card went all the way to Vancouver on a 2 day trip, and we totally forgot to take many pictures of it or send them in. What I didn't forget though was that tangible little piece of Becky, and I began reading her blog.

If I ever really need something funny to get me going, Becky's blog is the place to be. She's that awesome. Just don't be drinking something when you read because you might spew it all over your monitor in laughter.

3. Picture 1 in the 52 project: The photo that I forgot to send to Becky. It's taken on a bike trail across the river from the Vancouver International Airport. Like how the fly landed on the card and stayed there while I shot? Almost looks like I planned it!

Becky, even the flies from Vancouver endorse Mommy Wants Vodka.

4. Song I'm Loving That Became my Anthem this week: One day You Will by Lady Antebellum

5. Way cool iPod App I've discovered: Epicurious

If you're a foodie who loves the Epicurious site to score some recipes, did you know there's also an app for your iPod or iPhone? You can browse all their recipes, save them to your favorites, and if you choose to make some it will even make you a grocery list. How cool is that?! Next to Tweetdeck, it's my most used app so far.

6. Goal this weekend: Rock out in the car

Would you believe that I haven't set up that way cool car adapter thing that I won through Griffin Technology last summer so I can listen to my tunes in the car? I can hardly wait to try it out so I can listen to more Lady Antebellum in my car on the way to work.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Teenage Craziness

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:50:00 +0000

I swear that some days, this kid has lost his mind. Would you believe that he actually makes these faces when I ask him do something? Like wash the dishes? It's hard to get mad when you are laughing at him because he's JUST SO WEIRD.

But we love him.

My Mojo Was Missing

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

My writing mojo up and left the last few weeks, mostly fueled by sleepless nights, long angry conversations, and a general malaise that settled over the house just before Christmas caused by un-blogable drama. It hung around, danced on the edges and threatened to disturb our holiday, but being the troopers we are we plowed through.

Then it so kindly re-surfaced and, barely into 2010, we spent a few hours in a meeting at the police station. Because I just love to start my new year that way, you know?

It was about as much fun as being tortured with hot pointy objects while listening to The Chipmunks sing "12 Days of Christmas" and being force fed fruitcake. Or maybe a root canal. I'll let you decide. Personally, I think fruitcake is up there with soy milk as being one of the most vile things on the planet that should never enter my kitchen but then again, I would actually run screaming in terror from the dentist.

That day, if you were on Twitter in the afternoon, you may have been a part of the group who collectively talked me down from the ledges as I clutched a latte in Starbucks and forced myself to breathe, lest I throw up instead. Oh that would've been pretty, huh? Right in the middle of Starbucks?

By the way Starbucks, your Wi-fi sucks. It was on, off, sorta there, kicked me off, taunted me, and don't you understand how a woman in crisis needs her Wi-fi so the Twitter world can hear her screams of frustration? What's with that?

Stress and I? We're so not friends. We're not even remotely polite to each other and PMS, you are just SO NOT HELPING. So just shut up.

I breathed. I tweeted. I didn't throw up. Well. Maybe not THERE, anyway.

Before I get a pile of curious e-mail, let me say that everyone (and everything) is fine, and nobody is going to jail. Our case was actually, in fact, more like curiosity getting the cat into a shitload of trouble but on a positive note, Bill Gates can call me any time because I'm SURE I have a future employee in the works here.

My biggest lesson out of all of this? No matter how great a teenager your kid is, they are still a teenager and they will AMAZE you with their poor decisions. (Hello, reasoning part of Jake's brain? Please develop faster. Like, yesterday would be good) Adults will actually amaze you even more, except for the fact that they have no excuse at all. (Hello? Anyone home?)

This kid is going to be the death of me yet.

10 Things I've Learned From a Stress Filled Week

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:50:00 +0000

1. The words "School Shooting" at school are akin to yelling "BOMB!" in an airport. Even if it's just class notes.

2. Being smarter than your teachers isn't exactly a good thing.

3. Listening is an art. One that you wish other people would learn and use more often.

4. Teenagers with anxiety react with flight or fight when backed into a corner. Be gentle with them, and eventually they'll tell you everything.

5. No matter how helpful, naive, and softhearted your kid is, not everyone will believe it and despite the fact he's really smart, he'll still do things that make you want to smack some sense into him.

6. Techie people? Not always as smart as you'd expect.

7. Momma Bear on the outside, a sleepless, shaking, throwing up wreck on the inside.

8. Sometimes, I just hate everyone.

9. When mad enough, I really can curse like a sailor enough to surprise even Hubs.

10. I'm too old for this shit.

New Year's Wishes

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:27:00 +0000

The other day when we were out and about, taking hikes and then sipping Starbucks in the car, Hubs stopped by a house so I could take this picture. I've always loved these trikes sitting out along someone's driveway.

They make me think of friends and community, for some reason. Both of which I've been blessed with in 2009.

Back when I began blogging, I was shy. I watched the blogging community from the sidelines, never thinking that I'd really fit in or that I was good enough to belong. As time passed, the more people I met and the more I wrote, the more confidence I found.

2009 has been the year that I finally stepped away from the sidelines and jumped in with both feet, into Twitter and the blogging community with wild abandon. I began to tell people in real life that I blog and even began seeking out some freelance writing opportunities because by then, I completely fell in love with writing.

My Twitter addiction completely took hold, I wrote more for Everythingmom.com, and found myself surrounded by amazing, smart, beautiful women who form a community that knows no bounds. Blogging truly is friendship without borders, isn't it? We chat with people from Australia to Europe, all over the USA and Canada, just like they are next door. We support each other through the hard times, and cheer each other on.

I want all of you to know how much I have appreciated you taking the time out of your day to drop by and visit me here as I've shared pieces of my life, and me, with you. The comments, support, and love has been amazing. I'm honored that out of all those blogs out there, you visit mine. I don't know what 2010 will bring here, but I'm excited at the possibilities, and and all those empty days that I get to fill with writing. Oh, the writing. If anything, 2009 has re-kindled a fiery passion for writing that I didn't really know existed in me and I'm excited to see where it will take us!

There's only one wish that I have for Notes from the Cookie Jar in 2010. One.

I wish that this year, dear readers, I'll finally get to meet some of you in person.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, amazing 2010!

Guess who WON the Flip?

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:19:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I'll bet you are all wondering...who won the Flip from Mom Central that I've been Tweeting about so madly for the past few weeks?

Drumroll, please.......

I went to random.org, plugged in the numbers, and the lovely Marilyn was comment number 7.

Marilyn, you are going to love this baby. You will have to let me know how much fun you are having when it arrives. AND, don't feel that you really have to give it away. You can keep it, you know. I can't wait to use mine when we road trip in the USA myself. It's so tiny that it will be perfect to show all my readers the crazy 4x4ing trails we go on.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Adventures in Boxing Week Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:05:00 +0000

Do you do Boxing Day shopping? We claim we don't, but the reality is that since we discovered Best Buy, we do. Somehow it just seems so wrong to pass up some of the incredible deals that are available after Christmas.

I mean, hello? DVD players for under $50? Are you joking?

This week we made a trek to Best Buy in Richmond, BC. For those of you that don't know the Vancouver area, Richmond is just over a bridge from Vancouver. The Vancouver International airport is there, and now there's the new 2010 Olympic speed skating oval. Hubs and I met at the Three Road Starbucks, were married in Minoru chapel, and Jake was born in Richmond Hospital. It always feels like coming home when we head over the Oak Street bridge.

We were in the market for a laptop for Jake this time. Before I get e-mail stating how terrible I am for spoiling my merely 14 year old child with his very own bling-y lap top, just know that there is a huge, un-blogable reason for it.

Anyway we walked through those Best Buy doors and the drooling commenced. Despite my claims that we aren't really a techie family, I guess we actually are. We may not do the whole gaming thing, but over the past few years we've (okay, *I've*) really gotten into it. If you see me out and about now I have my camera, Flip, cell, and possibly the iPod AND, I'm now drooling over the bigger, badder, SLR cameras.

I admit it, I'm totally hooked.

After 3 long hours of wandering in the store, research, choosing, talking, looking at cameras (ya I fit that in there because I'm just so clever), we finally settled on a way cool HP laptop. Took us forever because not only had we decided to take advantage of some awesome deals, but so did half of the population of the entire Lower Mainland (if you're not from Vancouver, the term Lower Mainland refers to a huge area surrounding Vancouver.)

What we didn't know was that Best Buy needed 24 hours to configure and format the thing.

Um...ya. We had been planning on catching the 5:30 ferry. Best Buy said that possibly they could have it ready in an hour and a half, since we weren't having that much done anyway, and since it was waaaaay past lunch time we decided to go to Tim Hortons.

Well that was the plan, anyway. Instead we went and danced around a traffic jam for 45 minutes because half of the city had the nerve to go and have a power outage.

A few hours later, Best Buy wasn't finished, and Hubs? He wasn't willing to leave the store to go get a coffee or whatever and kill time doing something other than sit and watch the Geek Squad format the computer. So we waited.

And waited.

Waited some more.

Waited until around 7 pm at night. It wasn't that bad, really. They were super apologetic and even gifted Jake with a $20 gift card to say thanks for waiting. When they saw how techie he was, the Geek Squad let him go in their super secret back room and watch them format his computer. He looked like he fit in back there, among all these guys and loads of tech equipment. His eyes glowed with delight and we giggled as he shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from touching everything, which is a trick Hubs taught him when he was little and around lots of breakables.

Have you ever spent hours in a Best Buy? I really got the chance to check out all the camera gear, accessories for my iPod, and we ended up picking up a new HP printer/scanner and some phones in the process. We also decided that dude, instead of buying our Christmas gifts before Christmas, next time we'll wait until Boxing Day weekend and shop.

We also had a chance to watch other customers. Like the middle aged guy who picked up his laptop, immediately turned on Skype, and began preening right there in the store, grinning into the computer with smouldering eyes and posing like he was just so hawtly sexy.

Finally, we were done. It was time to go. Best Buy was totally apologetic, but we had been fine with it all along. Apparently their network had been acting up (maybe because of that power outage) and things had taken far longer then usual. Computers are finicky and sometimes, it's just beyond their control. The staff were great and getting all angry wouldn't have helped things along away.

With a huge sigh of relief we loaded up the car and were all ready to go, when...

Hubs put the key in the ignition and turned it.

"Oh, SHIT." He held up the key and in the evening light, I could see what he was talking about. The key had come out of the ignition switch, with part of the CAR attached to it.

You may not be able to see the panic that this would cause. First off, we were just going to make the very last ferry of the night. If the car was broken, there is no way we'd make it to the ferry terminal which would mean an impromptu overnight stay, then a tow truck home, which would cost PILES of money. Being stranded in Vancouver miles from home isn't on my "fun things to do" list.

With Hubs old clunker car, which he insists we have to take to the city because he's terrified the pretty newish Toyota will become scratched on the ferry, we have had exactly THREE near break downs; all in December in Vancouver.

The car is telling us something, people. Maybe like "I'm old and tired and hate the city," ?

Hubs shoved the key and whatever was attached to it in the hole where the ignition is supposed to be and as we all fervently offered prayers to the Gods, the car started. I'm guessing it must have been from me petting the dashboard and talking to the car gently, begging it to please get me home and I will make sure we never, ever, force it to go to the city again. At least not with me in it.

The prayers didn't help when we finally were in the ferry line up and Jake and I hoofed it to Trolls for take out (since we hadn't had dinner and all of us felt like we were going to die from hunger), only to discover it was closed. The bartender cleaning up took one look at us and laughed. LAUGHED! Then we couldn't find an ATM because you can't use debit on the ferry, and we had resigned ourselves to eating ferry food for dinner.

You can imagine my relief when I discovered they took Visa, though.

Thank GOD for Visa, which allowed us to have big sloppy burgers and crispy fries, which normally wouldn't be my first choice but to be in Best Buy all day without food or water would make me ready to eat just about anything. (To be fair, it was pretty yummy.)

I admit, we were all nervous when it came time to drive off the ferry. Would the car start? Would we have pieces falling off in our hands again? Did we need to call a friend and lug all that newly bought computer equipment off? My cell phone had run out of juice as well and all the phone numbers were IN it, so how would we even do that?

Hubs gingerly turned the key as I whispered sweet nothings to the dashboard and Jake clutched his new toy in the back seat. We collectively held our breath and the car roared to life.

Whoo! High fives all around! We're going to make it home!

The next day I was at work when Hubs called with a fix it report.

"I don't know what the hell happened, but that piece is stuck on there again. Won't come off. I don't know how or why it came off in the first place."

Maybe the car was just trying to tell us something, like "Look you stupid humans, I'm too old for this shit. Take the younger car. Besides, if you had planned things better you'd have had snacks, drinks and some cash on you. Remember that for next year or I'll strand your asses in Richmond and you'll be hitch hiking home. Don't you remember the LAST two years when I broke down? Do I have to spell it out for you?"

Point taken.

Dear 2010,

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:24:00 +0000

When I was 12 I used to dream about you. I'd sit during class with paper hidden under my books, doodling Garfield and figuring out how old I'd be when you arrived. People used to think I was working so hard, but even to this day as soon as I'm bored, I begin doodling or writing down ideas. Doesn't everyone do that? These days I'd be called "distractable", or maybe even "off task", and probably assessed for ADHD. What they didn't know was that I could listen and write at the same time, still absorbing everything that was being said.

Back in those days when we watched Michael Jackson videos, wore jelly shoes and acid wash jeans, you seemed so impossibly far away. So romantic. At lunch time I'd play games with my friends where we'd choose what kind of cars we wanted, how many kids we'd have or what type of house we'd live in, and I think that in some ways, I believed that some of those things might be possible.

So here we are, 2010. I drive a sensible Toyota, live in a rancher, have one kid, and didn't marry Harrison Ford (although Hubs is the same age, does that count?).

You are officially just days away and I'm staring down the last year of my 30's.

That's a bit scary. Thirties seems young, sort of like 20's more sensible sister but still just as pretty and fun. Forties makes me think of fifties, which signals things like becoming a grandparent and qualifying for the seniors meals in some restaurants.

Forty seems old and I'm so not ready for that. In fact, it's almost the same age Hubs was when we met. Where did all that time go?

I spent my twenties raising other people's children, trying to figure out who I was, and then becoming a parent myself. When I turned thirty I felt like I had finally arrived as an adult.

Now, I'm grown up. Whoa, was I in for a shock. What was I thinking?!

Thirties were when I finally had to act like an adult, and take on all the things that comes with it. Job losses and career changes, almost losing Hubs, becoming sick and injured myself, and the business of morphing from the girl that wanted to please everyone to the Momma Bear that would tear your head off should you go after my child. Yep, I grew up alright, and it was damn hard. Thirties, you were not fun. Oh you had some fun parts, yes. Overall you slammed us with some serious lows and not much in the way of extreme highs. You tested me in ways that I never thought were possible and at times I never thought I'd see the other side. I can't say I'm that sad to see you go.

2009 was a good year, though. I really figured out that I want to make a career of writing, and all the hard work that I've sunk into this blog has begun to pay off. My family is all doing well and we're happy, healthy, and together. The drama that was my 30's is tapering off, and things have smoothed out into an easy rhythm. That's all I could ask for, really.

Well. I would like to win the lottery and be a billionaire, like I had predicted in that stupid game but since I'm grown up now, I know the odds are just not in my favor.

So 2010, I'm planning to enjoy you and the last year of my 30's. Maybe you don't look as romantic and shiny as you did when I was 12, but I'm okay with that. You have laptops and iPod Touch, apps, downloads, Twitter, Blogger, and all sorts of fun things I would've given my right arm for at 12. I'll never forget the Christmas I desperately wanted a computer, and the idea of owning a computer was about as impossible as buying a Ferrari.

Now that I'm grown up I'll happily settle for peaceful and happy, with no big surprises or drama along the way. Deal?

They do say that life begins at 40, after all.

PS. But if you really feel generous, the lottery thing would be cool. Just sayin'.

A Year of Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:38:00 +0000

The top 12 recipes, according to my family, that I discovered this year in my kitchen. Do you have any favorites? Let me know!

1. Rum balls

2. Slow Cooker Chicken salsa Tacos

3. Bailey's Chocolate Fondue (oops! It's actually from 2008. But we did eat it for every special occasion in 2009, so it gets a mention)

4. Blueberry Oatmeal Bars

5. Prosciutto Mushroom Pasta

6. Turkey Meatloaf

7. Chicken Stew with buttermilk cornmeal dumplings

8. Ghostly Brownies

9. Spiced Chicken with sweet caramelized onions and Brussels sprouts

10. Orange Brownie cookies with dark chocolate M&Ms

11. Veggie Chicken Soup

12. Roasted Garlic Beef Stew

I hope that you have enjoyed the recipes as much as I've enjoyed sharing them. Here's to a delicious 2010!

PS..You have 3 days left to enter my draw for a Flip video camera...and can enter every day! Head on over and throw your name into the hat! You don't have to have a blog, just an email address or twitter name so I can get hold of you if you win.